Combined cyclometer and speed-indicator.



No. 644,573. Patented Man 6, I900. E. D. CLAPP.

COMBINED CYCLDMETER AND SPEED INDICATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 1, 1898.)

(No Model.)

ammwboz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD D. CLAPP, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COMBINED CYCLOMETER AND SPEED-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,578, dated March 6, 1906,

Application filed A ril 1, 1898. Serial No. 676,069. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD D. CLAPP, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Oyclometer and Speed- Indicator; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

.This invention is a combined cyclometer and speed-indicator for bicycles and velocipedes, the object of the same being to provide a device of this character which is positioned at a convenient point in front of the rider and will accurately indicate whether or not he is maintaining a certain speed at which the instrument has been previously set.

The invention is designed more particularly for use by racing wheelmen, forming practically a mechanical pace-setter that will keep the rider advised of the pace or speed at which his machine is moving, making it possible for him to conveniently ascertain whether he is keeping up with or passing a certain record. The instrument is intended to supplant the practice in vogue of setting a pace through the medium of riders upon tandems or polycycles, which practice presents objectionable features that are overcome by said instrument.

Though primarily intended as a pace-setter, it will appear hereinafter thatthe device also forms a cyclometer for ordinary use and presents a conveniently-located timepiece, the latter feature being an essential adjunct to the proper operation of the pace-setter.

To the accomplishment of the objects hereinbefore noted, the invention consists of a timepiece or watch having a supplemental hand geared thereto, differential gears mounted within the watchcase, one of said gears being provided with graduations, while the other carries an indicator-finger or pointer, and a star-wheel geared to the aforesaid differential gears, said star-wheel being actuated by a tappet on one of the wheels of the bicycle.

The invention further consists of certain details of construction and combinations of parts, fully described in the following specification and more particularly set'forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, Figure l is a side elevation of the invention applied and including only so much of a bicycle as will illustrate such application. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the combined cyclometer and speed-indicator. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the star-wheel or actuating mechanism,includingtl1e supporting-bracket. Fig. 5 is a modification of the gearing mechanism between the star-wheel and cyclometer. Fig. 6 is a modification of the gearing between the timepiece and speed-indicator. Fig. 7 is a plan view of sets of removable gears for difthe first instance, a timepiece or watch of any approved make, though essentially regulated to run perfectly, said watch being designated in the drawings by the letter A. The casing of this watch is extended above the dial-plate, terminating in a removable ring a, carrying a face-plate or crystal a, and interiorly said extension provides an annular flange or bearing-shoulder Z), while on one side is formed a tangential housing or tube 1). Seated upon the annular bearing-shoulder bis a ring or annular plate 0, having a certain number of peripheral gear-teeth-forinstance, 144and mounted upon this plate is a second annular plate D, preferably of narrower Width and having one hundred and forty-five peripheral gear-teeth, or one more than the aforesaid plate, for the purpose hereinafter explained, said plates being retained in place by an expansible ring E. One of the annular plates, the lower, is divided around its inner edge into spaces or grad nations, over which travels an indicator-finger or pointer d, carried by the other plate, and with the teeth of both of said plates meshes a worm F, bearing within the tube or housing band extended beyond one end of the same to receive a grooved pulleyf, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or a bevelwheel S, as shown in the modification Fig. 5. It will be here noted that by reason of the different gears with which the worm meshes the each rotation of the plate D, the spaces between the graduations each representing a certain number of spaces which the former plate has dropped and correspond with a certain number of revolutions of the bicycle-wheel to which the worm is geared, as hereinafter described, and determine the distance traveled by said whee]. In the present instance each mark or graduation on the annular plate 0 represents twelve miles, and said plate is shown as having a capacity of one hundred and forty-four miles, though it could be made to actuate a train of gearing or digit-wheels to record a larger number of miles when the device is to be used principally as a cyclometer.

G designates a star-wheel by which the revolutions of the bicycle-wheel are transmitted to the worm of the cyclometer through the intervention of a tappet h on a spoke of said bicycle-wheel, which engages the star-wheel, and suitable gearing between the shafts of the star-wheel and worm. This gearing can be accomplished in any well-known or approved manner, though I have shown but two styles, Figs. 1, 2, and 3 illustrating a belt connection, while Fig. 5 shows the connection or gearing made through a vertical shaft. Figs. 1 and 4 show the shaft of the star-wheel arranged horizontally in a bearing-sleeve 2' and carrying a grooved pulley 70, over which passes an endless cord K from the grooved pulley fon the end of the worm. In this case the bracket I has a fiat spring t", which bears against the grooved pulley 7c and offers a friction device to regulate the throw of the starwheel when struck by the tappet. This forms a very effective gearing and is the one which I prefer, as it will not add any material weight to the bicycle and can be readily thrown out of gear when desired. The gearingillustrated in Fig; 5 consists of a vertical shaft M, hearing at its upper end in a sleeve 6, carried by a watchcasing and at its lower end connected by collar m to a helical spring N, which is secured to the shaft of the star-wheel, said shaft being disposed vertically in its supporting-bracket O. The spring takes up what vibration may occur in the frame of the bicycle, but is of sufficient rigidity to properly transmit the power. At the upper end of the shaft M is a bevel-wheel P, in mesh with the bevelwheel S on the worm-shaft.

The supporting-bracket which carries the star-wheel or actuating mechanism is provided at its lower end with anopening by which it is placed upon the aXle of the front wheel, and it is held in place by a nut. The tappet carried by a spoke of the front wheel of the bicycle is preferably a small roller, as shown. The watch or casing of the instrument is supported from the stern of the handle-bars of the bicycle by means of a bracket R,presenting spring-clips or clamping-jaws 7', connected by a tighteningscrew r and extending rearward from a plate presenting spring-fingers It, which embrace the lower part of the watch or casing, one of the fingers engaging the watch-stem, and forms a memher over which the ring is passed to serve as an additional hold.

So much of my invention forms a very simple and effective cyclometer in connection with a watch or timepiece, though of course the latter feature could be dispensed with by mounting the differential gears and intermeshing worm in an independent casing. The watch or timepiece, however, is essential in completing the pace-setter or speed-indicator, which I shall now proceed to particularl y describe.

The seconds-hand of the watch is removed from its arbor, and upon said arbor is fixed a pinion u,which meshes with a gear-wheel U, loosely mounted on the arbor of the hourhaud of the watch, and said gear-wheel carries a pointer or pointers it, which travel above the plane of the indicator-finger or pointer cl. The gearing of the gear-wheel with the timepiece is such with respect to the gearing of the annular plateD with the wheel of the bicycle that both said gear-wheel and plate will rotate synchronously when the bicycle travels at a certain rate of speed. Therefore it is contemplated to so gear the parts as to predetermine the speed-for instance, indicating the speed on the basis of a mile in two minutes and ten seconds. In order to change the ratio,it is only necessary to change the gearing between the pinion a and gearwheel it either by increasing the size of one with respect to the other or by the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 6. In said figure a gear-wheel V is mounted upon the arbor of the hour-hand and is provided with a concentric series of crown-teeth v, with which is adapted to mesh a pinion 10, mounted upon a horizontal shaft W to slide longitudinally thereon, engaging a feather, said shaft also carrying a fixed pinion w, meshing with a pinion 00 on the seconds-hand arbor of the watch. The shaft Wis journaled in suitable bearings, and the movable pinion w thereon is shifted by means of a lever Y, having a bifurcated end engaging a groove in the hub of the pinion, said lever having a frictional contact with its pivot sufficient to hold it in an adjusted position, though any device could be used for the purpose.

The modification just described, and illustrated in Fig.6 of the accompanying draw ings, forms the subject-matter of a divisional application for patent filed May 17, 1899, Serial No. 717,210.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of my improved cyclometer and speed-indicator will be readily apparent. It will be seen that I provide an instrument of this character that is not only comparatively simple and cheap in its construction and arrangement, but also possesscs the more important advantage of being accurate and of great assistance to any wheelman who desires to regulate the speed at which he is propelling his bicycle.

Though I have shown and described the device as being attached to the stem of the handle-bars of the bicycle and geared to actuating means located at the hub of the front wheel, it will be understood that said device could be located at the head of the front fork, with the tappet applied to the outer end of the spoke or to the rim of the wheel. Other obvious modifications could be adopted without sacrificing any of the inherent advantages 'of the invention, and I therefore declare that I do not confine my protection to what is herein precisely shown and described, but reserve the right to modify or change the construction within the spirit and scope of my claims.

In the drawings I have illustrated the gearing which forms part of the speed-indicator or pace-setter as located below the regular hands of the watch or'chronometer, the arbors being extended for this purpose; but it will be understood that said gearing could be located below the hands, if so desired. The arrangement herein shown and described is, however, the preferred form, as it enables the gear-wheels to be quickly changed in setting the device for different speeds and is essential when the construction or gearing shown in Fig. 6 is employed.

Fig. 7 illustrates a convenient manner of carrying several sets of gears which are adapted to change the speed indicated by the combined movement of the watch mechanism and cyclometer. The smaller gear-wheel, which fits upon the seconds-hand arbor, is provided with a square opening to receive the squared end of said arbor, while the larger gear-wheel of each set has a circular opening, so that it will have a free movement on the arbor of the hour-hand or other shaft supporting it centrally within the watchcasing.

Having thus particularly described the detail parts of my invention and the several operations of which it is susceptible, what I claim as new, and desire full protection upon, 1s

1. In aspeed-indicator for vehicles, the combination with a watch or chronometer, of an indicator-plate, mechanism actuating the indicator-plate from a wheel of the vehicle,- a gear-wheel removably mounted upon an ar bor and turning loosely thereon, an indicator actuated by said gear-wheel, and a second gear-wheel removably mounted upon an arbor, the last-mentioned gear -wheel being driven from the watch-movement and geared to the former gearwheel, substantially as shown and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a speed-indicator for vehicles, the combination with a watch or chronometer, of an indicator-plate rotatably mounted above the dial-plate of the Watch or chronometer, mechanism transmitting motion to the indicatorplate from a wheel of the vehicle, a gear-wheel removably mounted upon an arbor above the dial-plate and adapted to turn loosely upon said arbor, an indicator carried by said gearwheel, and a second gear-wheel also removably mounted upon an arbor; the last-mentioned gear-wheel being driven from the watch-movement and geared to the former gear-wheel, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. Inaspeed-indicator for vehicles, the combination with a watch or chronometer having a central arbor extended above the dial-plate, of an indicator-plate rotatably mounted above the dial-plate, mechanism transmitting motion to the indicator-plate from a wheel of the vehicle, a gearwheel removably mounted upon the aforesaid central arbor of the watch and adapted to turn loosely upon said arbor, an indicator carried by said gear-wheel, and a second gear-wheel also removably mounted upon an arbor which is actuated by the watchmovement, the last-mentioned gear-wheel being geared to the former gear-wheel, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a speed-indicator for vehicles, the combination with a watch or chronometer having a central arbor extended above the dial-plate and a second arbor also extended above the dial-plate, the lastmentioned arbor being driven from the watch-movement; of an indicator-plate rotatably supported above the dial-plate, mechanism transmitting motion to the indicator-plate from a wheel of the vehicle, a gear-wheel removably mounted on the central extended arbor and adapted to turn loosely upon said arbor, an indicator carried by said gear-wheel, and a second gear-wheel removably mounted upon the other extended arbor and adaptedto turn therewith, the lastmentioned gear-wheel meshing with the former gear-wheel, substantially as shown and forthe purpose set forth.

5. In a combined speed-indicator and cyclometer, the combination with a watch or chronometer, of indicator plates rotatably mounted above the dial-plate of the watch,one of said plates havin g graduations and the other a pointer or indicator, mechanism transmitting motion to the indicator-plates from a wheel of the vehicle, a gear-wheel removably mounted above the dial-plate upon an arbor upon which it turnsloosely, an indicator car= ried by said gear-Wheel, and a second gear wheel removably mounted upon an arbor which is driven from the watch-movement, the last-mentioned gear-wheel being in mesh with the former gear-wheel, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth. 7

6. In a speed-indicator for vehicles, the combination with a watch or chronometer, of an indicator-plate rotatably mounted above the dial-plate of the Watch, mechanism transmitting motion to the indicator-plate from a wheel of the vehicle, a central arbor above the dial-plate, and a second arbor extended above the dial-plate and driven from the watch-movement; together with gear-wheels adapted to be removably mounted on the aforesaid arbors, and an indicator actuated by the gear-wheels,substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a combined speedindicator and cyclometer, the combination with a Watch or chronometer, of a central arbor extended above the dial-plate, a second arbor extended above the dial-plate and driven from the Watch-movement, indicator-plates rotatably supported above the dial-plate, one of said indicator-plates having graduations and the other a pointer or indicator, and mechanism transmitting motion to the indicator-plates from a Wheel of the vehicle; together with several sets of gear-Wheels adapted to fit upon the extended arbors, one of the gear-Wheels of each set being loosely mounted and carrying an indicator While the other is adapted to turn with its arbor and gear with the former, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a combined speedindicator and cyclometer, the combination with a Watch or was chronometer, of a central arbor extended above the dial-plate, a second arbor extended above the dial-plate and driven from the Watch-movement, annular plates of different Width rotatably supported above the dialplate and provided with coincident teeth, one of said plates having a greater number of teeth than the other the Wider plate having graduations and the other an indicator; a worm in mesh with the toothed plates, and mechanism imparting motion to the worm from a wheel of the vehicle; together with several sets of gear-Wheels, said gear-Wheels fitting the aforesaid extended arbors and one of each set carrying an indicator, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature 4o 7 in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD D. CLAPP.

Witnesses:

F. D. BLACKISTONE, T. E. TURPIN. 

